Congress delays new passport rules for land and sea border crossings

Executive Editor Josh Roberts believes the best trips involve long hikes and muddy boots. His life goals haven't changed much since he was a kid: He still wants to be Indiana Jones when he grows up. Follow him on Instagram at @jauntist.

Josh joined SmarterTravel in 2001, and is an active member in both the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and the North American Travel Journalists Association (NATJA).

In addition to SmarterTravel, he has written for USA Today, The Boston Globe, Yahoo! Travel, The Huffington Post, Airfarewatchdog, TripAdvisor, Jetsetter, ABC News, Oyster, and Business Insider. His travel photography can be seen in Britain and Ireland's Best Wild Places, published by Penguin UK.

The Handy Item I Always Pack: "A lacrosse ball. It's small, lightweight, and works wonders on loosening up tight muscles."

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: "Being the first to discover an ancient lost city. Failing that, visiting as many of the already-discovered ancient ruins as possible."

Late last week, Congress approved an amendment to the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative that will delay new passport rules for land and sea border crossings until June 1, 2009, reportsTravel Weekly (registration required). However, you’ll still need a passport to enter the U.S. by air from Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean, and Bermuda as of January 8, 2007.

Had there been no last-minute amendment, all travelers by land would have been required to carry a passport to enter or re-enter the U.S. at the Canadian or Mexican borders as of January 8, 2007. Additionally, cruise travelers would have needed a passport to return to the U.S. from Mexico, the Caribbean, Canada, or Bermuda.

This is viewed as a victory for many in the travel industry, who feared that the passport requirement would negatively affect tourism revenue. And while that may be true, I think it’s also a sad testament to just how many Americans (about 80 percent) never bother to get a passport.